Title

Author

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree

Spring 2015

Degree Name

MFA (Master of Fine Arts)

Degree In

Art

First Advisor

Isabel Barbuzza

Abstract

The following pages are thoughts and ideas that go through my head when creating art that is intended to be seen, analyzed and somewhat understood by an audience. Though there are some aspects contained within that may touch directly on how I make sculpture on a practical and aesthetic level, my hope is that this document will function more as a work that will provide the reader with a sense of hope as it relates to art making, that while what we do as makers can often seem pointless, we must have some kind of faith that art can be useful, and we ought to try to make sense out of things if we can. If there is any reason at all why I continue to make things, beyond general foolishness or to prevent from being bored, it lies somewhere said or unsaid within this document.

The title of this document, “Why the Ocean’s Near the Shore” comes from the song the Scarecrow sings in The Wizard of Oz “If I Only Had a Brain”, stating that if only he were smart enough he could tell Dorothy something meaningful like why this is the case; this may not be so impressive to someone with a brain, but for someone without, it is certainly profound.

Public Abstract

The following pages are thoughts and ideas that go through my head when creating art that is intended to be seen, analyzed and somewhat understood by an audience. Though there are some aspects contained within that may touch directly on how I make sculpture on a practical and aesthetic level, my hope is that this document will function more as a work that will provide the reader with a sense of hope as it relates to art making, that while what we do as makers can often seem pointless, we must have some kind of faith that art can be useful, and we ought to try to make sense out of things if we can. If there is any reason at all why I continue to make things, beyond general foolishness or to prevent from being bored, it lies somewhere said or unsaid within this document.

The title of this document, “Why the Ocean’s Near the Shore” comes from the song the Scarecrow sings in The Wizard of Oz “If I Only Had a Brain”, stating that if only he were smart enough he could tell Dorothy something meaningful like why this is the case; this may not be so impressive to someone with a brain, but for someone without, it is certainly profound.